From Mr A. S. Facer, FRPharmS
SIR,-Having read Mr Rhodes's letter (PJ, May 27, p809), I was prompted to write to express my views on the emergency hormonal contraception debate.
I am all in favour of community pharmacists being involved in extended roles, provided each role has properly laid down protocols and adequate funding, that training is available, and that there is sufficient time to carry them out.
I am confident that the average community pharmacist is very able to carry out the role required, subject to the criteria I have just mentioned. However, I am increasingly concerned that we are being encouraged to take on these new roles on the basis that, if we do not, some other profession will.
My concern about being involved in the over-the-counter supply of EHC is based on actual events, which happened to me some months ago.
One evening just before closing time, a local general practitioner telephoned to ask if I would deliver an urgent prescription to one of his patients who would be unable to get to the pharmacy in time. I agreed to deliver it on my way home but, on asking for the patient's address, the doctor requested that I delivered it direct to his surgery to save the patient's embarrassment. It was of course for the "morning after pill".
On arrival at the surgery, I was met by a stressed 14-year-old girl, sitting on a seat outside the surgery waiting for the medication. The surgery had already closed and all the staff had left.
As I was in the process of handing the prescription medicine to the girl, a man dashed up and asked me who I was, and what I was doing. I quickly realised from the girl's reaction that this angry man was her father.
I explained that I was only carrying out my duty, at the request of the GP, and that he should contact him for any further information.
I think these events tell me that the GP would have been delighted to have passed this role on to someone else, after all he did not hang around to be confronted by the father. It also raises the question, is there really any other profession eager enough to be faced by similar situations?
Community pharmacy has an excellent relationship with, and is well respected by, the general public.
We must be sure we do not compromise this respect by our eagerness to demonstrate what an underrated profession we are.
A. S. Facer
Bretherton, Lancashire